Cinematic techniques

The film The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) directed by Gabriele Muccino uses various cinematic techniques to tell the story and highlight defining moments in the narrative as well as important aspects relating to the characters.

Different camera angles and points of view offer important insight into the characters’ thoughts and feelings and the relationship between characters and their environment. Close-ups draw the viewers’ attention to an object or a character’s reaction that helps in telling the story.

The lighting in the film is mostly achieved through natural light. This helps to create a realistic feel, making viewers believe in the authenticity of the story. Some scenes are shot in low lighting, reflecting a character’s mood or the harsh nature of their condition.

Sound is used in the film to increase the emotional impact of some scenes. For instance, dynamic scenes where Chris is running are accompanied by upbeat music. The lyrics of the songs are also important in providing additional information about the scene, and sometimes clues about what the characters are thinking or feeling at that specific moment.

You can read more about the cinematic devices used in the film in the following pages.

Excerpt from the study guide:

Other examples of close-ups which are used to draw the viewer’s attention to several aspects important to the storytelling and to create tension, are the close-up of the taxi cab meter showing the fare, followed by a close-up of Chris’ almost empty wallet. This suggests that Chris does not have the money to pay the taxi driver and increases the anticipation and suspense regarding what will happen next.

The film makes use of several descriptive wide shots, especially at the beginning, which feature the urban landscape. Such shots are used to showcase the feeling of authenticity, placing the story in contemporary times, as well as increasing the viewer’s ability to relate to the characters. Sometimes such shots of the urban scenery are used as transitions between scenes, such as the one used to show the passage of time from one day to the next when Chris spends the night in jail (00:41:03-00:41:17).

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